Concrete laying machine



Aug. 13, 1935. J, F ROBE 2,011,417

CONCRETE LAYING MACHINE Filed April 3, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l T f 15.1 I 1,

Aug. 13, 1935. J, RQBB 2,011,417

I CONCRETE LAYING MACHINE Filed April 3, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 13, 1935.

J. F. ROBB 2,011,417

CONCRETE LAYING MACHINE Filed April 3, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 7 u I /E 3 7.9

-77 77 64 I 54 76 47 w T Patented Aug. 13, 1935 UNITED 'sfrrxr -es PAT NTY OFFICE, 1

CON RE E LAYING M CHINE.

John .F. Robb, Cleveland Heights, ,Ohio, .assignor to Koehring .Company, Milwaukee, Wis.,,a corporation Application April 3, 1

' li Claims. ('01. 94-46) This invention has to do with machines. for building concrete roads and known as pavingmachines, and embodies a novel'design ofgsuch a machine forusein conjunction withcentral mixing plants for the concrete aggregates, the paving machine being located at the point of application; of the concrete as customary. In operating with this invention, delivery trucks are availed of to bring the mixed aggregates from the central mixing plant to the paver whereupon they are spread on the subgrade to bepaved.

In view of these conditions, it is desirable to provide a machine of thistype which is substantially complete in itself in that it provides its own traction meansv and operating instrumentalities fo-rthe distributing hopper and charging means therefor.

Moreover, while there is a growing popularity for the construction of roads of a standard minimum width or integral multiples thereof, 'the conditions prevalent in various geographic locations make it impossible to follow this idea to the letter. It is necessary, in, View of theconditions in many localities, to construct .roads of widths other than the standards mentioned above. Moreover, a single road may, depending on certain conditions, require varying widths throughout its length. To meet the foregoing conditions as well as'the tendency, I have provided a machine which embodies a portable support provided with a distributing hopper having a discharge door which may be openedto various degrees to thereby control the discharge of aggregate to be deposited on the subgrade, and associate with said distributing hopper a charging chute. Mounted on the supportis an engine or other source of power and connections between the propelling means, charging means, distributing hopper, and discharge door therefor are provided. A seat may be disposed at the engine so that the operator may control and operate all of said instrumentalities at will. The support is provided with wheels adapted to engage the road form rails, and the axles of these wheels are made adjustable to conform with the width of road section to be paved.

In carrying out my invention I contemplate the provision of a distributing hopper which extends substantially over the entire width of subgrade to be paved. Onefcrm of my invention may include a chargingdevice which is mounted adjacent one end of the distributing hopper, the latter being provided with means to level. the

aggregate throughout the length of the hopper before the aggregates are deposited ontothe subgrade. While the charging device may --be' .-stationary or movable when mounted as stated, it is preferably movable. so that the machine as. a whole may, under certain conditions, occupy. a

minimum width to avoid materials of construction which :may be lying on, thesubgrade-adjacent to the section being paved. If Iso desire, I may locate. my charging'device at orieside of the-distributing hopper. 1 In either of these constructions I counterbalance the charging devices .by' locating theliengine on the opposite side of the distributing hopper.

. In another embodiment of my-invention, in-' strumentalities are provided for disposing a charging skip atone side of the distributor hophopper, said instrumentalities including means for movingthe-skipjinto charging position relative to the. hopper at any point in its travel lengthwise of the hopper.

Although in the outline presented set forth a paving machine adapted te -cooperate withza delivery truck which receives its supply above, I have [15 per and for shiftingsaid skiplengthwise of the For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference maybe had to the following description and accompanying draw:- ings, in which-- q 7' Figural is ;a front. elevation of one form of paving machine embodying one form of my invention, the road rails being shown in section. Figure. 2 is a plan view of the construction illustrated in Figure 1, the road railsbeing frag- :mentarily shown.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view "taken approximately in the plane indicated by the .line 3-3 Figure 2, and illustrating the operating instrumentalities for the discharge door of the distributing hopper.-

j Figure. A: is a view similarto that ofFigurel, illustriatingthe manner of loading the mixed aggregates from thetruck onto the chargingchute associated. with the distributing hopper.

Figure 5 is a plan viewof a modification of my invention, wherein the-charging chute for the,

hopper is located centrally; thereof. a

construction illustrated in Figure 9, not quite complete.

v Figure 11 is a plan view showing a modified; form of distributor hopper wherein mixing in.-

strumentalities suitable formixing asphaltorany H suitable road materials, are disposed.

"My invention, as described in one form, consists of a support indicated: generally at: A in*- eluding axles B-B', connecting wheels C which run on road rails'D. The support A has mounted thereon a hopper E extending:substantially over the entire width of the'support. At oneend of the hopper..E is an engine F. At the otherend is amovablechute G adapted to charge the mixed aggregates into the hopper E. Said hopper is provided longitudinally thereof withia spiral levelling blade Hmounted on the shaft IL x The rear axle B has operative connection" with the engineF in'that the latter is providedrwith a shaft 1 on which a bevel gear 2 is mounted. Saidab'evel gear 2 issadaptedto mesh with one of two bevel gears 3 tmounted on. a common block on the shaft 4,one end: of which constitutes part of the differentialgearing 5.- Forthe p ur-, pose of causing the gear 2 to. operatively engage one or the other-of the gears, 3; to thereby propel the support'A-in one directionor another l provide said support with a bell crank fiz-havingone I end 1 'operatively connected with a rod 8 located within easy reach of the-operator. Theother end 9 of the bell cr'ank'is loosely connectedwith the block. carrying the gears}. It is,therefore, ap-

parent that actuation of the rod 8 will result in the gear Zengaging one or the other of the traction gears 3 oi occupying a neutral position when it is desired that the support be at rest a The hopper E is provided at its bottom with'a pivoted door J which may be integral or otherwise mounted for rotation with a pinion Ill. A guide I I is fastened to the casingof the engine F and a -double rack I2 is 'movable in said guide 'I I, one toothed end of the rack being operativelyengaged with the pinion l0, and the other toothed portion being operatively engaged with a pinion l3 mounted on a shaft M which receives its. ro-

"tative energy from-the engine and is operableby the lever IS in easy reach of the operator; The rack I2 is provided withfurth'er guide means in'the form of pin and slot connection at l 6 with the engine casing. With this construction it i's'apparent that rotation of the pinion I3 in one direction or the other will result in opening or closingof the discharge door J, and it is also'evidentthat-the said door may occupy any desired position of ad- 'justment with respect to the hopper, to thereby control the thickness of the layer of concrete to be depositedjon the subgrade.

' For the. purpose of elevating and lowering the movable charging chute G, an operating shaft If! operatively connected with the engine F is' provIided with aworm l8 whichbperates the worm wheel l9 mounted "on a vertical shaft- 20. Said shaft 20 is provided at its upper end with av worm f 2| meshing with a second worm wheel 22 mounted on a horizontal-shaft 23 which is journaled operating the dis- 7 Y in the framework of the support A. The shaft 23 has mounted thereon a pair of cable drums 24 about which cables 25 are securely fastened and wound. The opposite ends of said cables 25are fastened at -'26 to the outer end of the charging chute G. The engine is provided with a lever 21 or v similar means operable by the attendant to cause rotation of the shaft I! to provide for the raising and loweringof the chute q by meansfof the instrumentalities above set forth.- t,

p The shaft I is operatively connected with the engine F for rotation, said engine being provided with-a, lever28 or similar means for controlling the same;

A seat K is fastened tothe'framework adjacent the engine F, and is adapted to be occupied by the attendant or operator. As set forth above, each within 'easy reach of the operator.

"ance with the requirements of the job. 1 Infact, where it is desirable to deposit a width of concrete a of the operating levers 8, i5, 21, and 28 is disposed Moreover, his position is such that he can see thecondition 10f the roadway and the contents of the hopper'at Y all times and is thereby enabled to operate a'll of the instrumentalities provided,'at will,- in accordless than'that of the section being pavedgfor any 'purpose whatever, he may deposit" a small'-=q'uanftity of the aggregates from the chuteG into the hopper E and then immediately" lower the chute spot desired. I

ingzor charging chute disposed at opposite'ends of the distributing hopper E, ,the machine balanced-at all'tim'es and the possibility or its attaining an unbalanced state-"isreduced ma minimum. With the; above construction' the delivery truck L may be located 'atthe section "adjacent the one being; paved, as illustrated in Figure 4, and discharge theaggregates ont o fthe chute G, 'Whenthe drum Mhas been moved out of the pathof the chute G, the'latt'er'is raised to a charging 'pos'itionsuch as is shown in dotted flinesin Figurelj The movability of the chute is further advantageous in the event thatit is necessary to move the support overres'trict'ed terrain. 7 With the chute raised as shown in Figare 1, the over-all width of the machine i s-considerably reduced and the engagement, of obs'tacles by the chute during movement of the .machine is obviated.

My invention may involve amodification of the structure abovev outlined. To this en, the

,Mountedon shaft I are oppositely directing spiral levelling blades- H, H of substantially equal length. One side of the hopper E is provided with an upwardly sloping chute G. which isimmovable. with respect to the'hopperuE. A

shaft 29 is mounted in bearings an and 3t, m ne hopper. E and chute G respeotivelyl Securely fixed on the shaft 29 isacharging spiralbladeiil :whichends at a point within the hopperQE" just short ofthe shaft 1'. The shaft 25.;isproviderl with a worm which coacts with a wheel disposed centrally on the shaft I, said wormand wheel being enclosed in an--oi1tight casing 3.3. v The delivery truck L. is adapted to deposit aggregates ion the chute G, whereupon it is transferred .by means of the blade32 to the innermost ends =01 the levelling .bladesH', H "'Ihebladesdis :hopper E in Figure 5 is provided with a s haft I.

to non-charging position. When the blade 'I-I '3 a has distributed the concretefto'f the desired amount, the operator may then open the disg charge door J and 'deposit the aggregates on the It will be noted that with the engine and loadtribute the aggregates evenly floni-thecenter of "the'hopper E to the-extremities thereof Mounted "on the support A adjacent the side of the hopper E opposite from the 'chuteG is an engine F whichfurni'shes the motive'power for operating the hopper instrumentalities: and cer- :"tain other mechanism now to be set forth.

For purposes of propulsion, a shaft Mon the engine F has a worm and wheel drivewith-a shaft i5,"said gearing being disposed in an oil tight casing 36. The ends ofthe-shaftii are disposed inbearings 37 on the frameworkofthe support -A and bevel gears 38 are mounted on the-pro:- -jecting ends of said shaft. provided witha differential gearing enclosed ina housing 40 and the drive shaft thereforxhasa .gear meshing witha gear 43 mounted on clutch The rear axle -38 ;is

' shaft 44. Said shafts may be supported" on the framework in any suitable manner, The clutch "shaftM is provided with a clutch 45 having driving. gears 46 which are selectively engageable, with one of the gears 38 whereby to. propel the support in one :direction or another or to maintain the same at rest. For the purposeof inoving the clutch 45 into its various positions, operating instrumentalities 41 are, provided. Said instru mentalities are controlled by a hand lever 48 within easy reach of the operator for whom the seat 49'is provided,

- The other gear 38' mounted on. the shaft 35 meshes with a gear 50 mounted ona clutch shaft 5!. A clutch 52 coacts with a gear 53 mounted onthe shaft 29. with operating instrumentalities 54 which are in The clutch 52 also is provided turn controlled by an operatinglever by the attendant.

For the purpose of providing for the deposit of the aggregates that have been levelled off from the distributing hopper E on to. the subgrade 55 operable 'therebelow, I provide two doors 56, 51. .Anoper- 'iating shaft 58 is suitably supported on the framework of the support A and has fastened. thereto a control lever 59. A crank arm 6!! is-mounted for rotation with the shaft 58. and has pivotal connection with a rod 6| which is in turn pivoted mounted on the shaft 58 is an operating lever 53 which is provided with pivotal connections to the door 51 similar to those above mentioned in connection with the'door 56. Movement of the lever 53 with respect to the shaft 58 inan arcuate path will consequently result in the operation of the door 51 in accordance with requirements of the job. 3

l The rear axle 39 and a front axle 'are-provided with instrumentalities which make possible 'the-adjustmentof the length of the axles to correspond with the width of road to be paved: A similar construction may be 'providedifor the modification shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive. With the form of my construction just'de- "scribed, it is apparent that certaininstrumentali- -tieshave been obviated, namely,'the chute raising and lowering mechanism. This makes for a structure which has an unusually low height so that the device may, be moved without fear of obstructions in the way; of bridges. vantage of this construction is that 'thedelivery Another ad'- truck supplying the aggregates to the chute .G

may propel itself .alongthe subgrade in:- front of the: support A 'in conformity with the'movement of the paver by the operator seated at "49150 that the f'deposit. of the aggregates on the subgrade may be continuous with the supply of aggregates M 'to the hopperE;

To be sure, it must be borne in mind that with all constructions of pavers embodying. my innvention a plu'ralityof delivery trucks will be pro- .vided so that there will be no loss in time'between deliveries. l

- Whilelhavedescribed my invention in certain formsas availing ofa seat for the attendant,v

:any othersuitable station for his "convenience may be used instead. I desire it further to be l5 is secured for rotation in the standards 16 of .the, framework. One end" of the shaft 15 projects beyond its corresponding standard 16 and has secured thereto a sprocket 18.4 The engine 19 is located at'the opposite side of the distributor E with provision at for seating the operator A chain 8| and sprocket 82. connect :a drive shaft '83 of the engine with the sprocket l8 and shaft 15. the shaft 15 for rotation therewith is a pair of cable drums 34 having cables secured thereto and wound thereon.

The levelling blades 92 and 92 and shaft I are .connectedto the engine for rotation in any suitable manner. The drive for purposes oftraction is by way of the diiferentialtgearing 40 and associated instrumentalities substantially asdisclosed in the modification illustrated in, Figure 2-.

In Figure Sis shown a construction somewhat Mounted at spaced points on similar to Figure 6 with the exception that the engine '59 is placed laterally to the distributor.

,In theconstruction illustrated, while a single discharge door J is availed of for discharging the contents of the distributor E onto the subgradeto be- -paved, I considerit well within the province of my invention to employ more than one discharge door. In this form of my invention, moreover. mylevelling meanstakes the form of a pair of oppositely. directed spiral levelling'blades 92 and 92[whichserve to level the aggregates from the center toward the ends of thedistributor E.

Figure 9 shows a further modification of my invention where the skip or charging device M is shiftable' along the distributor to thus serve as. a levelling means and also have selective'place .ment of the mixed ingredients inthe distributor. The shaft 15' of rectangular'shape is driven by .theengine 79 in a manner similarto thatshown in. Figure 8. The'cable drums 84 are slidably mounted on a shaft 15. i The bore of said drums .is rectangular andbecause of this constructio the drums are rotated with the shaft.

' A qscrew thread shaft 91 is also -mounted for. rotation in the standards H5. As illustrated, thisxshaft 9| is disposed directly below the shaft *l5,=jalthough it may be located elsewhere if so desired. .The skip -14 is provided-'witha bracket 86 which'is interiorly threaded and receivesthe threaded shaft 9! :skip 'l l'ext'ends beyond the shaft 9| adistance substantially greater than the space between said sha'ftand thecorresponding free "edge 88 of the Thedischarge end8'l of the l bracket 90 and pulleys 84' are moved simultaneously so ,that the cables 85 are maintained in operative alignment with the skip.

v Theposition of the operator may be at. 94 for thereason that the various levers 91,109, H and would be more convenient. In this form the traction may be by chain drive. 95 and the distributor E may. be provided with a plurality of discharge doors 96,. .three being illustrated in this instance. Individual levers-91 are availed I .of for operating said doors which are pivoted -'to the distributor at 98. The door remote from the seat 94 may have operative connectionwith its corresponding lever 91' through the medium of a suitably supported shaft 99. b an extension I00 to which the link IOI is pivoted, said link being pivotally connected to the bracket =l02'on the door96. The operative connection between the other two levers 91 and their conespending doors is, for all practical purposes, the

same as that just described and it is apparent that the operation of said levers by the operator or attendant will result in corresponding actuation of the doors 96. As pointed out'above in connection with other forms of my invention employing. more than one door, it is by this construction possible to distribute the mixed agregates over selected portions of the subgrade having a widthequal to or less than the entire Width of the subgrade being paved and over a which the machineis adapted to travel.

When the skip occupies its lowest position as shown in FigurelO, it would be in contact with the ground and a lateral'rnovement of the skip may cause injury, not only to the skip, but to its supporting and operating structures." To avoid this, Ilocate the shaft I03 below the shaft 9| and secure the ends of the same in the standards 76. of the skip "Hand rota'tably mount a roller I 'between'the arms of the bracket I04. The roller N35 is grooved to, accommodate the curvature of the shaft I03, althoughthese parts may be otherwise shaped if so desired. It will'thus be apparent that with the skip at its lowestpositio'n, as' I shown in Figure 10, it will be prevented from touching the ground thereby avoiding the sibility of injury by lateral movement.

As in the f'ormsof my invention previously described, lmake provision for adjustment of the machine to accommodate varying widths of subgrade to be'paved by means of the coupling members and associated parts 65. I As shown in Figure 11, it'may be desirable'that -my apparatus be used not only for distributing concrete or roadpaving materials, but under certain conditions, it might wellbe used for mixing the paving material or-materialsas it. is supplied tothe' apparatus by a skip or similar device, such as shown in the various figuresoi' the drawings. Thus, in Figure 11, the roadwidth hopper 120 may contain the spiralmixing devices Ill, having their. spiral portions inclined Ii I,. for operating the. instrumentalities The lever has I secure a forked-bracket I04 to the bottom for depositing selectively. a ,1

in opposite directions so that the paving materials dumped intothehopper'will be thoroughly mixedpreliminary to being. laid down on the. road -by the controlling features of construction such as have been previously described. Suchan arrangement of mixing machine may be useful for mixing asphalt in resurfacing roads with such material.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by'Letters Patent of the United States,'is-

l."In a paving machine of the class described,

a distributor having a plurality-of independent v lyoperable discharge doors, andmeans for levelling the aggregates evenly throughout thelength of .the distributor, whereby-a layer of aggregates of 'a width less than or equal to the width of the subgrade section to be paved may be selec- 'tively deposited thereon. I 2. In a paving machine of the class described,

a distributor having a plurality of independently operable discharge doors; means for levelling the aggregates evenly throughout the length-of the; distributor, whereby a layerof aggregates of a width less than or equal to the width of the subgrade section to be .paved may be selectively deposited thereon, and meansfor controlling the thickness of said layer.

3. In a paving machine of the class described,' a portable support adistributor, said support including standards. adjacent said distributona skip pivotally mounted on said standards, means for moving the'skip into and out of charging position relative to saiddistributor, and instrumentalities for shifting said skip relative to said distributor.

! H '1 4. In a paving machine of the class described, a portable support, a distributor, said support including standards adjacent said; distributor, a skip pivotally mounted on said standards, means for moving the'skip into and out of charging position relative to saiddistributor, and instrumentalities for shifting said skip and means rela- U tive to said distributor. 5. In a paving machine of the class described, a distributor havinga plurality-of independently operable discharge doors, whereby a layer of aggregates of a width equal to or less than the widthof'the subgrade'section to be paved-may be 'selectively deposited on saidsection. I Y 6. In a paving machine of the class described,

a distributor having a plurality ofindependently operable discharge doors, whereby alayer of aggregatesof a width equal to or "less'than the width ofthe subgrade section towbe paved may be selectively depositedon said section, and means 7 for controlling the thickness of thelayer.

'7. In a paving machine of the class described, a distributor having a plurality of independently operable dischargejdoors, whereby a layer of aggregates of awidth equal to "or less than the width of 1 the subgrade section to bepaved may be selectively deposited onsaid section, and means mixed aggregates .over said doors 8. Inc. paving machine of the a distributor having a plurality of independently operable discharge doors, whereby a layer of aggregatesi of. a' width equalto or less, than the;

width of the subgradeisection to be paved may be selectively depositedion'said section, means for depositing mixed aggregates: over'said doors selectively, and instrumentalities for causing relative movement of said distributor and means.

9. In a-paving machine of the class described,

a class described,

a distributor having a plurality of independently operable discharge doors, whereby a'layer of aggregates of a width equal to or less than the width of the subgrade section to bepaved may be selectively deposited on said section, and means for depositing mixed aggregates over said doors selectively, said instrumentalities including a threaded member extending substantially parallel to said distributor, a charging device in threaded engagement with said member, and mechanism for causing relative movement between said member and device.

10. Apparatus for spreading aggregate upon roads comprising a framework, traction members for said framework, means effecting trans: portation of said framework along a surface upon which aggregate is to be spread, a screw spreading member, means for rotating said screw spreading member during the travel of said framework, and ,means associated with said screw spreading; member for receiving aggregate adjacent the side of the surface upon which it is to be spread and delivering it to said screw spreading member.

11. Apparatus for spreading aggregate upon roads comprising a framework, oppositely pitched screw spreading members, means for rotating said screw spreading members, and means associated with said screw spreading members for receiving aggregate adjacent the side of the road and delivering it to said screw spreadingmembers.

12. Apparatus for spreading aggregate upon roads comprising a framework, oppositely pitched screw spreading members, means for rotating said screw spreading members, and means associated with said screw spreading members for receiving aggregate adjacent either side of the road and delivering it to said screw spreading members.

13. Apparatus for spreading aggregate upon roads comprising a framework, oppositely pitched screw spreading members, means for rotating said to be spread, and means associated with said 25 screw, spreading members for receiving aggregate adjacent the side of the road anddelivering it to the adjacent ends of said screw spreading members.

JOHN F. ROBB. 

